Malika Oufkir was five when she was taken to the palace for the first time to meet the king. She was immediately intrigued by the young princess but the two girls got into a fight. The king asked to adopt Malika and her parents, Fatima and Muhammad, agreed. Malika was heartbroken and homesick though she lived the life of a pampered princess. She was treated as the king's child and saw her parents only occasionally, but continued to long for home.